Getting Ready for Valentine's

So since it's about a month away and stores have already fully stocked their aisles of hearts and candy, I decided to begin thinking about the girls Valentines so that I'm not scrambling at the last minute.  For starters, I am totally for the prepackaged Valentines sets, but last year I found the cutest personalized cards from Walmart that I can upload the girls pictures on and I can't pass them up!  They come 3 to a sheet for only $0.28 or upgrade to cardstock for only $0.67.  Look how cute:

And they ship pretty quickly so you have time to order a couple.  Click this link to view their design options and order Walmart Valentines Cards.

Just attach them to a pencil or goody and you are set to go.  Since most schools no longer allow candy, we've had to become more creative.   In my oldest daughter's (6) case this year she wants to attach shopkins so I was fortunate to grab some boxes of special edition sweetheart ones to divide to each friend.  4.99 for a box of 6 so that makes a pretty good deal for shopkins ($0.83 each), look how cute the Valentines ones are: 

 Now for my littler one (3 year old) we decided to start by looking in the target dollar bins for something she liked and she decided to go with socks (ironically my older daughter did that too when she was 3 or 4 so that was an easy go to).  I made a quick printable to attach to the bag the socks are in that says "we make the perfect pair" and then we can put her personalized card right on top (we were lucky enough to find a boy pair and girl pair). I also grabbed a couple pairs for teacher gifts.  

 Here is a picture of the ones I made two years ago and I decided to update the printable which I am attaching here as well if you would like it. 

Sock Printable

I also found that target has these cute DIY kits in their dollar bins if you are lucky enough to get them before they sell out!  

Now to start thinking about some Valentine themed meal/snack ideas for the girls.  

Planning Maggie's First Birthday

When it became time to plan Maggie's first birthday (I go back and forth between 1. being excited about planning and celebrating this joyous event with my third baby girl, and 2. wanting to cry hysterically that my probably last baby is about to be 1) it was no challenge to decide her theme.  

I went into labor on Valentine's Day and she arrived February 15th so it was a given I would somehow incorporate Valentine's Day.  I then decided to choose the color scheme pink and gold, which also happen to be the colors of her nursery.  Through planning now many parties for my three little girls, I have learned it is a HUGE time/money saver to use a theme at some point that can match their bedroom or something you can carry over to another party or room in your house.  This way I can use decorations from her room as well as put any newly made decorations on display after the party.  Now I can justify spending the extra $$ on party things!  Here are a couple pics from her room:

Since I do her monthly pictures in her bedroom, they have seemed to all coordinate with the pink and gold colors and will be adorable on her 12 month birthday banner ;)

I spent two days and nights over my Christmas break beginning to make things to help celebrate the big day and decided to throw in some hearts to the pink and gold mix.  It has already been so easy to find things in stores with these ideas at this time of year!!  I was just going to get a head start but since I was worried I wouldn't have another break from school before her party, I got a little carried away and got so much done.  Here are some pictures of the works in progress, it will all look better when it's all put together and set up for the party, hopefully!

Here is the high chair banner, a glitter "1" decoration, and you can see the beginning of a banner for the table with the pink shapes.

Here is the cake bunting that I'm obsessed with. And yes, it took me way to long to perfect!

And here is the "one" for the smash cake topper, some "m"s to stick somewhere (thinking in flowers?) and then the numbered clothespin to display her 12 month pictures :)  

I am loving how everything has turned out so far and can't wait to take her 1 year pictures and get some invitations ordered...but since I over plan early, it is still way too early to take her one year pictures :(  I can't wait to see everything come together!